Monaco’s Liberation to be celebrated

On Sunday, September 3, MonacoUSA will lay a memorial wreath to commemorate the American-led liberation of Monaco from German occupation 73 years ago. The ceremony begins at 5 pm in the cemetery in Monaco, located just below the Princess Grace Hospital. The remembrance ceremony will also include prayers at the tombs of two Monaco resistance fighters executed shortly after the Allies arrived in the south of France in 1944.

The wreath will be presented by Merrily Lustig-Tornatore, a 20-year member of MonacoUSA, who also serves on its Board.

“Many people think that the close relationship between Monaco and the US started with the marriage of American-born Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier,” said Annette Anderson, MonacoUSA Director, “but certainly the US role in liberating the Principality during World War II had already cemented an important friendship.”

On August 15, 1944, allied forces landed along the coast west of Nice. Within two weeks, allied airplanes had bombarded and badly damaged the port area of Monaco. Five days later, the naval battering of La Turbie and Mont Agel signalled the moment for the German troops to depart.

On September 3, the 517th Parachute Regimental Combat Team arrived in Monaco.

Ms Anderson cites an oft-repeated story about that momentous day: “A jeep with two American GI’s drives into Monte Carlo and pulls up to the Tip Top Bar. One of the GIs, the future-bestselling author Irwin Shaw, jumps out, orders some drinks and announces that Monaco had been liberated.”

Unfortunately, Ms Anderson added, Monaco historian, Pierre Abramovici, the author of “Monaco Sous l’Occupation,” recently documented that the story is urban legend and not true. “Shame,” she said, “it’s a great story.”

[caption id="attachment_29323" align="alignnone" width="640"] New BAM President John-Luigi Megginson with Vanessa Ilsley[/caption]
On Tuesday, March 13, the British Association Monaco (BAM) held its AGM at the Maisons des Associations. After four years as President, Vanessa Ilsley has stepped down.
Highlighting some of the events that had been changed or implemented during her tenure, Vanessa, a highly respected individual in Monaco, started with the Queen’s birthday cocktails, which have progressed into a successful fundraising occasion welcoming more government ministers and ambassadors over the years. “I believe this is very important to ensure that BAM’s contribution to the Principality is understood,” Vanessa said.
Vanessa, who is also involved with Outward Bound Monaco and the Monaco Air League, as well drew attention to the Hudson Foundation, of which BAM are administrators. Mr Hudson made his money in the production of soap flakes and as a result moved to Monaco and built the Villa Paloma, which is today a national museum. His Foundation is for the benefit of English in the Principality, and for the last two years BAM has awarded financial prizes each end of year to students in the three colleges: College Charles III, Lycée Albert 1er and Lycée Hotelier.
“Less obvious to members and something I am proud of,” Vanessa added, “is the implementation of a formal association with the Princess Grace Hospital. The BAM Community Support Team visitors are now formally accredited by the hospital authorities and hold badges to enable them to visit the hospital, the Centre Rainier III and Cap Fleuri.
“This is a welcome acknowledgement of the wonderful work the Community Support Team and their helpers are doing in the community. I would like to take the opportunity to thank these quiet volunteers for all their valuable time and unstinting support. Again this development by BAM in the community underlines my efforts to highlight BAM’s stature in Monaco.”
John-Luigi Megginson, who was educated in the UK from the age of 12 but returned to Monaco where he now runs a Family Office, has taken over as President. “I have very big shoes to fill. Vanessa has done such a wonderful job and I offer my thanks for her many contributions over the years and for being a source of inspiration to me," John Luigi said at the AGM.
“I hope to continue building on the success of the previous year, to increase subscriptions and keep up the high-caliber events we have throughout the year with a view to organising more great events.”
Both Presidents acknowledge the importance of working as a team with their committees.
The British Association of Monaco, a charitable association registered in the Principality, was founded in 1935 “to provide a focus for British and Commonwealth citizens residing in Monaco and surrounding areas to meet socially, represent their views in the Principality and to provide a welfare service for those in need".
The Association, which holds no political or sectarian aim, promotes and represents the British community within the Principality. Although Full Membership is open to British and Commonwealth citizens, all nationalities are eligible for Associate Membership.
The Community Support Team made up of volunteers was originally called the Assistance Fund Sub-Committee and it was formally recorded that "as a matter of principle the Relief Fund should not be used to assist gamblers".
Article first published March 14, 2018.

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[caption id="attachment_5315" align="alignnone" width="709"] Philippe Verdier, founder of No Finish Line, Ariane Favaloro, President of Children & Future, Dr François Bourlon of Cardio-Thoracic Centre and Francesco Grosoli, CEO Barclays Wealth & Investment Management EMEA. Photo: CCM/PALOMBA[/caption]
On September 28 at 2pm at the Cardio-Thoracic Centre of Monaco (CTCM), Francesco Grosoli, General Manager - Wealth & Investment Management EMEA and Monaco joined by Robin Reynolds, Director, Head of Events, EMEA, of Barclays London presented children at the hospital with robots that had been built by Barclays staff during an unprecedented team building exercise in humanitarianism. This presentation was made in the presence of the Directorate of Cardio-Thoracic Centre and Dr François Bourlon.
Last April, part of Barclays staff (Monaco, Dubai, Switzerland, London) were put into teams to put together 2-foot Meccanoid G15 robots with 6 motors and 621 pieces. It took more than 2 hours to build the 4 interactive robots, which were distributed, along with four tablets, to the children in the hospital at Cardio-Thoracic Centre.
A cheque for € 15,000 was presented by Philippe Verdier, founder of NFL and the Monaco association Children & Future, along with the president Ariane Favaloro.
Mr Verdier, whose association was created in 2001 under the patronage of HSH Prince Albert II (who runs the No Finish Line circuit every year) and has had Princess Stephanie as a marraine (godmother) since 2005, commented, “It’s incredible that this small country can open up to children.
Children & Future’s main mission is to fund projects to assist children suffering or in need. The majority of their funding goes to the Cardio-Thoracic Centre, via Monaco Collectif Humanitaire, which mobilises its teams to save children with serious heart defects who have no suitable hospital facilities.

Since its creation in 1987, CTCM has been a major player in supporting seriously ill children by ensuring cardiology diagnosis, surgery and paediatric intensive care. Forty operations are performed each year, sometimes as many as 4 to 5 a week, with a zero percent mortality rate thanks to the expertise of its medical and surgical teams and the dedication of all staff, as well as the involvement of several associations essential to transportation and childcare.

People think it is easy for children, from these countries, like Senegal or Nigeria, to come to Monaco,” Dr François Bourlon said. “But it’s very stressful for these sick children to travel to Nice by plane, and then be transported here to Monaco. And then they have stay with a host family, sometimes for a few weeks but other times for months.”

By its direct involvement and financial donation, Barclays Monaco underlines its commitment to helping seriously ill children. “It’s our duty as a major financial institution, local and globally, to help the community and, after the crisis, to be perceived differently,” Mr Grosoli told Monaco Life. “Much like a house without electricity, a society without banks doesn’t work. We need to give more to humanity – more time, more money and more effort – to those in need. After all, nothing is as important as a child’s smile.”
Barclays Monaco has been a supporter of the No Finish Line since 2005.
[caption id="attachment_5314" align="alignleft" width="300"] Mr Grosoli with 4-year-old waiting for heart surgery.[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_5313" align="alignleft" width="300"] The program needs host families.[/caption]
Article first published September 30, 2016